Pressure sensitive-device



y 22, 1952 G. B. BAILEY PRESSURE SENSITIVE DEVICE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Dec. 15, 1944 MAP/1246M MOVE/75",.-

R m a m WM B k w w y 2 1952 G; B. BAILEY 2,604,116

PRESSURE SENSITIVE DEVICE Filed Dec. 13, 1944 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Fig.5

' E7. GEOEGE 5. 54 1; ENTOR BY W7W A TTOENE Y5.

Patented juiy 22 1952 ii'ihislinventmn irelatsia pressure sensitive device for. use in a .pressure' measuring'dev'ice.

' More particularly it-relates to apre'ssuresens'itii e device of the slack diagram type.

It .is' frequently desirable tomeasure pressures which beara particular relation-to .a given condition-for the .purpose of-measuring' that condition; For example; there is a square root relation between the difi'e'r'e'nce "in (pressures at opposite sidesof an ounce plate "inf-a conduit and ther'ate "of flowof a fluid insa'idfconduit; Consequently, a measurement of the pressure difference will determine the rate of ffiow. In

, other instances, the relation may be"thato corresponding to a sine curve or the "curve of any other mathematical "function; Again, the relationmay be represented by'a fsimple'rcurve other than that :of .a'mathematieal function. Heretofofe, when an instrument has been made to measure such a condition, 'ithas 'generally "been nece sary construct-it Wifih' mechanisms designed for the particular condition, which mechani'sms are often quite complicated and expensive. Also, it is "frequently necessary to take readings and t-hen make corrective calculations to apfily the reading-s to the particular condition being measured. Inother' words, calibration of the instrument for particular uses to -'enable direct-readings to be' taken, has frequently been impossihle. [Still another objectionable factor with prior instruments of this "type has been that, in cases where calibration has-been possible, the scale "indications -of the calibrated instrume'nt have not been unifornr'and' hence have been dimcult to read.

The primary object of f'this '-invention is 'to provide an instrument having a'-nove1- pressure sensitive device which overcomes the difficulties anddeflcieneies'mentioned above. I

A-further -'objeet is to provide a "pressure sensitive device of the =diaphra'gm type wherein the action or movement "of the device matches -a desired portion of a given simple curve.

A -further object is to provide 'a pressure sensitive 'device of simpleconstruction which can be ealibr a'ted {to move-in direct accordance with any condition iwhose *vaiiations can he plotted in a-sim'ple otlr-ve.

:A-rurtuer object is to provide anovel pressure sensitive lie-vice for use in an instrument for measuring =9. condition "whichznanibe :p'lotted in a imple 'c e, and which accommodates the provision or scale indications which are ;substantially uniform- :Arurrher smearsw :p'rcvm'e:a-msvei pressure' sensitive device .iorrneasuring.the ratidbet veen two given pressures.

A further object sensitive device tor -measuring the ratioibetviifi two pressures which measuring unit.

' is to provide "aflnressiiife A'fu'rther object i'sLto .provide a device-responsi-ve to the ratio between .two' pressures which is smallin .size','simplerin"construction,accurate, comparatively inexpe sive-and f's'ub'stan'tial-l'y free from'trcubleiin cpeiltionl. IA runner 'ob'jctlisito provides never responsive to the i atio "btWe'Bn tWO S't's. ferential. pressures, and rusa'bleflin, a meat r g instrument to "secure" Ia, "direct reading. 'Di the rauobetweeu' ItWO finid flOWS 01" other condition measured from difierentiarpressure's." Other objects will be apparentiifroijnjthe de scription, drawingsand appended claims; I In the drawings; Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional bodimentoftheinvention;' V Fig. 2 is 'a transverse 'sectiona l "viev v ofthe diaphragm unit "of the inventionye Fig. 3 "is .a 'diagra 'tmatic view in which the actions of different ha-racteristic devices are plotted. j a 1 Fig.4 is ase'ctiQnail viewn1ustratain 'a p a sure-sensitive device ror use in a gag e ior measuring the :ratio between two pressures greater tha'n -atmospheric' pressure. Fig. 5 is -a "sectional view of apre'ssure sens'itive device -for "use in za lga'ge i'iorsmeasuring the ratio between tw-ol pressures flees .th'am -'atinos+ DhBric --p'ressure. 1 f Q Fig. '6 is a-se'ctiorral wiewz illustracting'r-a spressure sensitive --device for 1a 'gagesfor :rneasuring rthe ratio between two sets of difterential rpressures. Referring to ihe drawing, and eparticulafly Figs. 1 to 3, which 'illustrate zone :embodiment of "the -invention, the numeral 1H) designates-ran instrument housing zmounted bylbraekets :12! urban asupport l 2, -'su'ch --as an instrument panel; m

view of one I instrument. :shousing 2a transparent elosure I3 1 through which '1 a .zualibratediiace. 15182128 *1 11s visible. frame 1!:5, of'ssubstantially' Leshape mounted in :housing' L0 iandhsupports 2.1 pressure sensitive device 16. .Z'here illustrated. *thesdevice'l'fi comprisesa two-mart casing H defining fa; chamber spanned by ca. "flexible diaphragm 1'8 clamped at its margin :betweenx-the casing :parts. Diaphragm :l 8I1rnay-"be:znade 0f slackileatheifirgold beaterfs skin, plastic impregnated :iabrio, or .any other. 'iflex'ible material substantially iimpervicus to the passage ofxair therethmugh. .JA pa'ir of utilizes a tiiaiihrag i i' ffie 3 rigid plates [9 of a size smaller'than the diaphragm are clamped or otherwise secured together on opposite sides of the diaphragm, and a rigid stem or stud 20 is carried by said plates at the center thereof and passes freely through an opening 2| in one of the casing sections. Consequently, one portion of the pressure sensitive device is subject to atmospheric pressure. A pressure line 22, to a source of pressure to be measured, which may be either above or below atmospheric pressure, is connected at 23 to casing I1 at the other portion of the pressure sensitive device.

. Frame I5 may mount a U-shaped spring 25 extending around one end of easing l1; and an elongated flat spring 26 is secured to the free end of spring 25 and extends alongside of casingpll.

Stud 20 is secured at its free end to an intermediateportion of the spring 26 at 21. A pointer arm 28 is pivoted to frame l5 at 29, with its free end extending adjacent to face plate l4'in indication relation thereto. 'A pulley 30 is fixedly secured to pointer 28, and a head chain 3|, is secured thereto and passes 'therearound for connection to the free end of spring 26 at 32. A

counterweight 33 may be mounted on the pointer 28. Suitable adjustment means 34 may be proa vided, such as means for adjusting the calibra-. tion or the zero reading of the instrument.

It will be apparent that any difference between the pressure introduced through line 22 and the atmospheric pressure introduced through casing opening 21 will cause the diaphragm [8 to be displaced from its position when said pressures are equal. This displacement is transmitted by stud 20, spring 26, head chain 3| and the pointer 28;

One characteristic of the action or displacement of a diaphragm is that the relative areas of the central rigid plates l9 and of the total diaphragm area which determine the functional relation of diaphragm movement to effectivearea, changes incident to diaphragm displacement. In other words, for each position of the diaphragm in its range of displacement during operation, there is a difference in the functional relation between diaphragm movement and diaphragm area. This-relation is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 3, where curves X, Y and Z illustrate the functional relations for-different diaphragm-type pressure sensitive units. The functional relation results from the change in the efiective area of the diaphragm at different positions thereof. The eifective diaphragm area is that bounded by lines of .tangency to the maximum position of diaphragm displacement at its slack margin with respect to the plane of the diaphragm plates. For practical purposes, it may be considered that the.'slack marginal portion .35 of a diaphragm under tension will assume a true arcuate shape as illustrated in Fig.2. Under such a condition, the axes 36 of said curved slack portions35 of the complete diaphragm margin'will bound an area designated A in Fig. 2, which is the effective diaphragm area when the diaphragm is in the full line position shown in..Fig. 2. .If the diaphragm then shifts to theidotted'line position shown in Fig. 2, the axes of curvature of the diaphragm will shift inwardly as shown at 31' by reason of the stationary clamped position of the outer edge of said marginal portion between the two casing parts Consequently, the effective diaphragm area is reduced as designated at A in Fig. 2. For any given diaphragm unit,these factorswill pulley 3D to 4 produce a characteristic curve similar to curves X, Y andZ of Fig. 2. The amount of slack in the diaphragm is another factor having a controlling influence on the character of the graph or curve as will be readily apparent, since it determines the radius of the curved form which the diaphragm margin 35assumes under tension.

When an instrument is being constructed to measure a given condition, thecharacteristics of that condition are calculated and a graph .or curve thereof is plotted. The pressure sensitive diaphragm unit is then so constructed that a portion of its functional curve, for example the por tion 38 of curve Z of Fig. 2, will match the curve characteristic of the portion of the condition to be measured. For this purpose, master curves, sucha'sjshown in Fig. 3, may be prepared which plot the characteristics of pressure sensitive units ofknown properties, i. e., known dimensions of diaphragm and diaphragm plates and known degrees or amounts of slack; Thus, when thecurve of the condition to berneasured'is compared with the master curves, it is possible to select 'adiaphragm unit which matches or approximates-"the function of the condition; If the master curves only approximate the desired curve, the required construction of the diaphragm unit can be jdel-f termined quite accurately by interpolation with respect to two or morejof the master curves wh' h approximate the desired curve. The accuracy oi the construction so determined by interpolation can then be tested and any necessary adjustmerits made therein until the required function thereof is secured. f

Having thus matched the condition to be meas died, the instrument, similar to Fig. 1, is constructed with the partsbiased so that only the desired portion 33 of themovement of the device is utilized. Onetmetho'cl of accomplishing this purpose is by providing adjustable stops 39 in the pressure sensitive unit, as shown in Fig. 2. These stops limit the range of .movement ofthe diaphragm to that intherange of portion 38 of the curve. Other means maybe utilized to 2.000111% plish the sameresult, another example being the use of springs, such as. spring 25, so positioned and acting on the diaphragm unit through its stud 20 that the desired portion of diaphragm movement characterizedby portion 38 of its characteristic curve is utilized, as where the forces acting on the diaphragm will not be ade! quateto deflect the springs outside of the range of movement selected. Accordingly, the com pleted instrument is simple, -will give a direct reading of the condition being measured when-it is properly calibrated, andwill be easy to rea d because its scale graduations will'be. uniform. The curves which can be matched must besimple. curves, but they may vary in a wide range. Simple arcuate curves, sine curves and curves of dlfferent mathematical functions are'examples oi Casing part 42 has g-central projection 52- which may be formed separately and*secured -theret or which may be-integraltherewi-th. 'Ih'e interior of projection 52 within casing part-r42; and stud'41'projects therein. One wall of projection 52 has an opening which is spanned by a flexiblediaphriagrhor seal 53 through which a lever 54-extends with a sealed fit. Lever 54 is pivoted to stud 41 at55, and'a bracket 56 carried by the projection 52- serves as a fulcrum andsupport for said-lever to avoidapplication of stress to diaphragm 53.

Fig. 4 illustrates a condition wherein the ratio between two pressures above atmosphere is to :be measured. The respective sources of the-subject pressures are connected at passages 49 and 5|. Passage 50 is open toatmosphere. Inasmuch as the two diaphragms move as a unit in the casing, by virtue of their rigid spaced connection, a move- -commu-n1cates withthe" space I ment will result in a direction determined by the point ofapplication of thehigher of the'two pressures whose ratio is measured. This movement is transmitted by stud 41 and lever 54 to any suitable indicating or recording means (not shown). Assuming that the pressure applied at passage 49 exceedsthat applied .at passage 5l, the displacement .of the diaphragms will'be, upward as viewed in Fig.4. The slack marginal diaphragm portion 51 "of diaphragm 43 will be curved inwardly .as shown, .and upward movement of plates 45 will tend to shift the centers or axes 'of curvature of diaphragm slack portion 51: inwardly. Consequently, the effective area "of diaphragm will decrease-progressively incident-to such'displacement, similar to thechange in area from A to A shown in Fig. 2. At the same time, the lesser pressure applied at passage 5| will tension the margin 58 of diaphragm 44 inwardly, inasmuch as it is above atmosphere and acts against atmospheric pressure in the chamber between the diaphragms. However, as the plates 46 of diaphragm 44 are shifted upwardly because of the predominance in pressure below diaphragm 43, the centers or axes of curvature of marginal portions 58 of diaphragm 44 shift outwardly. Consequently, the effective area of the diaphragm 44 to which the lesser pressure is applied is increased progressively as the diaphragm is displaced or moved upwardly, similar to the change in area from A to A shown in Fig. 2. The two diaphragms will reach a position at which the effect of the greater pressure on the diaphragm of reduced effective area will be balanced by the efiect of the lesser pressure on the diaphragm of increased effective area. This balanced position is peculiar to the ratio of the applied pressures, and the position assumed by lever 54 and the related indicating or recording means gives a direct designation of that ratio when the instrument has been calibrated properly. In this'connection it may be mentioned that the values of the applied pressures do not influence :..the instrument aapartxsfrom their ratio; In other words; the reading .of" the sinstrument will be the same-for any=g1ven ratio/.andregardless" of the "values ofi the pressures providing? that ratio, L e, a reading ori-25 will .bezobtained whether the applied pressures are -.'2,5# and .5.#:; or 1#' and 2#; or 1.5# and 3#, and so forth.

The Fig. 5 embodiment illustrates the applicae tlonof the inventionto measure the ratio between two pressureseach "less than atmospheric pres: sure; The subject pressures are applied. at pas sages 49 and 5|; and the passage 50' is open-to atmosphere. Inasmuch-as the atmospheric pressure'exceeds the-subject pressures. the-diaphragm margins '51 "and -58' will both be" tensioned -outwardly. The same action of balancing the-position of the shiftable diap'hragm unit by increas-' ing and decreasingthe areas of I the two 'dia phragms incident to "shitting of" the diaphragm unit, as described above, occurs inthis'embodiment also.

The Fig.6 embodiment of the invention'isalso a ratio measuring instrument. This instrument hasa casing 60 formed of a plurality of parts between which the margins of a pair ofslackdiaphragms BI and '52 are clamped. Diaphragm plates163 of sizes-selected for the purpose of-the instrument are clamped to the respective dia' phragms. A central partition pIateM spansthe casing between the two diaphragms' andjhas arestricted central opening spanned by asmall slack diaphragmL65. Stud 66 isysecured toand extends perpendicularly and centrally of each of the diaphragms. Spacers 61 preferably mounted on the stud serve to space the diaphragms 6 l and 62 predetermined distances from central diaphragm 65. One set of -difierential=pressures is applied at oppositesides of diaphragm fil at passages 68- which communicatewith the'spaces at opposite sides of said diaphragm, and a second set of differential pressures is applied at opposite sides of diaphragm 62 atcasing passages 69. Projection ID at the center of one face of the casing communicates with the'chamber'of said casing which is adjacent thereto, and stud 66 extends therein. 1 1

An opening in one side of projection '10 is spanned by diaphragm H through'whioh a lever 12 extends with a sealed fit. Lever 12 is pivoted at 13 to stud 66 and is fulcrume'd'in a bracket" carried by projection 10. V g Y U In the arrangement illustrated in Fig.-6, the greater pressure of each of the two sets of difierential pressures is applied atth'e innermost chambers, so that the slack margins 15 of the two d-iaphragms BI, 62 are tensioned outwardly. The center diaphragm 65 will be tensioned according to the location or point of application of the predominant major pressure of the two sets of difierential pressures. The diaphragm unit El, 62, 55 will shift according to the ratio between the differences in the two sets of applied pressures, and a balance of the diaphragm unit will be reached in the same manner and for the same reasons mentioned above. Inasmuch as the flow of a fluid is commonly measured by measuring the difference site sides of an orifice plate in the path of flow, it will be apparent that the device will serve to give a direct reading of the ratio between the flow of two fluids.

Each of the devices illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 operates on the principle that the ratio between two pressures is the reciprocal of the areas of the diaphragms against which they act.

between the pressures at oppotion is directed -to the fact thatleach of the dif.-'

ferentembodiments requires only'a shallow hous: ing;. Consequently, the devices canbe made in small sizes- The simplicity of the device, resulting 2 from the arrangement of, the diaphragms to balance themselves automatically at a position peculiar to, the ratio of the applied pressures, is also important with respect to thecost of the device; ,freedom from operating failures and other characteristics. Another important characteristic of each embodiment of ratio measuring device illustrated is that all applied forces are; taken directly by thediaphragm assembly or unit in each casebecause of the rigid connection between the constituent diaphragmsl This relieves e nss ether, mebh fi frw iie parts of the forces applied and sim plifie's their con-z struction'and design, so that the 'possibility'gof the V occurrence, of errors for inechanicalijreasons is overcome and avoided.

,1 claim:

v1 .]I n a ratio gage, a three-part casing,'a 'sla-clif diaphragm! marginally clamped by said casing parts at'each parting pla'neLarig'id center fplate seeured to each diaphragm, means connecting said plates in predetermined spaced relation, and

means for applyingvthe pressures whose ratio is to be measured at the outer casing parts, one of said outer casing parts having a chambered'pro jection-open at one sidethereqf, a flexible seal spanning said opening, a lever passing'through said seal, means fulcruming said lever adjacent said seal, and a stud carried by said diaphrag'ms and pivotally connected to said lever. i I

2. In a pressure ratio gage, a casing having a pair of spaced pressure chambers defined in part by a pair of spaced diaphragms having rigid center portions and slack marginalportions, said diaphragms being fixedly connectedin spaced relation at said center portions to define, a shifta'ble .unit whose respective efiective diaphragm areas-vary progressively with shifting thereof in a manner to reduce the'effectivearea of th'ediap hragm subjected to the higher pressure at a predetermined rate and increase the effective area of the other diaphragm at a second 'pre,-' determined rate until the reactionsof the two pressures on the respective diaphragms are in balance. 7

I: 3. In a pressure .measuring device, a pressure sensitive unit comprising a closed casing, aapair of diaphragm secured at their peripheries to and spanning said casing to form with the ends'ofsaid casinga pair of outer chambers and cooperating-with each other to form an intermediate chamber, each of said diaphragms including a rigid central portion and a slack marginal portion, and means rigidly connecting the central portions of I said diaphragms 4 in predetermined spacedrelation for movement thereofas a unit, the ends of said' casing being providedwith pres sure con-nections communicating, respectively, with-the puter chambers for the application of pressure to the outer faces of, the diaphragms, andthe intermediate portion of thecasing having' a connection communicating with the inter, mediate chamber for subjecting the inner faces of the.-diaphragms to acommon pressure whereby whenboth of thepressures'applied to the outer chambers exceedor are less than the pressure applied to the intermediate chamber thediaphragms will be bowed in opposite directions, the sizes of saidrigid central portions being so designed thatthe effective areas of said diaphragms progressively vary upon movement of the diaphragms as a unit by a dillerential' in pressure applied to, the outer chambersand so that movemenu of the unit, is terminated when the'ratio of theeffective areas of the diaphragms edual the reciprocal of-the ratio of the app-lied pressures. GEORGE E. BAILEY.

REFERENCES CITED,

The following references areof record in the file of this patent: I UNITED STATES PATENTS V Number; Name Re. 19 ,902' Sprague et a1. Mar. 24, 1936 1,183,486 Pardue May 16, 1916 1,371,243 .I-Iopwood Mar. 15, 1921 1,473,173 Brinkerhofi' Nov. ,6, 1923 1,841,651 Sprague Jan. 19, 1932 1,893,200 Dolbey Jan. 3; 1933 1,937,314 -Bryant .7. Nov. 28,1933 2,090,160 ,Spi-tzglasset a1; Aug.- 17,193? 2,298,158 Robinson Oct, 6, :1942 2339,841 Ellison g Jan. 25, 1944 2,3 9,395 1 Lind emann Feb. 111944 Date I 

